It's official: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is on the air at ABC.
The Joss Whedon drama based on the Marvel Comics property has landed a series order at the Disney-owned network, ABC announced Friday.

The ABC Studios project is based on Marvel Comics' secret intelligence organization that has appeared in countless titles, including Iron Man, Captain America and The Ultimates, since being introduced in the 1960s. The military law-enforcement agency's moniker stands for Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistic Directorate, which also has evolved over time in the comics.

Whedon is on board to co-pen the pilot alongside his brother Jed Whedon and Jed's wife, Maurissa Tancharoen; the trio previously teamed on the three-part web series Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Avengers and Buffy the Vampire Slayer mastermind Whedon directed the pilot, which has had ABC social media accounts for months. S.H.I.E.L.D. is executive produced by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Tancharoen, Jeffrey Bell and Marvel TV's Jeph Loeb.

ER's Ming-Na stars as Agent Melinda May, The Avengers' Clark Gregg reprises his role as Agent Phil Coulson, Killing Lincoln's Brett Dalton is set as gruff rising star Agent Grant Ward, Elizabeth Henstridge as science whiz Agent Gemma Simmons and Iain DeCaestecker as tech guru Agent Leo Fitz, with Nashville's Chloe Bennet set as Skye, a superhero-obsessed woman.
Since the project was first announced in August, it has been a clear front-runner to land on ABC's 2013-14 schedule. ABC Entertainment Group president Paul Lee told reporters in January that the project was being fast-tracked and he was "very hopeful" that the entry with a "great script" would go

"Marvel has the ability to bring the whole family around it," Lee said at the time. "Joss has great relationships around it. There's a lot of real funny male-female relationships and flirtations, but it's also Joss and Marvel, so there's a lot of action to it."

"My boss Bob Iger buys Marvel, and how wonderful is it for ABC to be able to use the core talent from that and not use the Marvel brand but the Avengers franchise for a show that is not exactly about the Avengers but is attached to it?" Lee said, noting that Whedon was already working on scripts at the time.

ABC will start a major marketing push for the high-profile project with a sizable built-in fan base Sunday, May 12, airing a first look at 8 p.m. ahead of the season finale of Once Upon a Time.

What concerns me long term (and even short term for that matter) is that none of Marvel's most well-known characters will appear in this series.

No Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, or Captain America. Even lessor knowns like Hawkeye, Black Widow and Ant Man won't appear, either, because there are plans for stand-alone films for each. Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Jo aren't going to appear on a weekly TV series. It's possible that whomever they cast as Ant-Man will have a crossover but that's about it.

And certainly no Spidey.

So with that in mind, how does this series sustain the already built-in audience? That's the biggest question, IMO.

That's a tough question. It matters if Samuel L Jackson at least cameos in it and if they can snag Cobie Smoulders (whatever her role in Avengers was) it will make for easier transition.

What I wonder is why they put it up against NCIS. Starting a new series up against the #1 show seems like a gamble. Maybe they're not counting on audience cross-over, and hoping the (likely) younger audience they should bring in skews things in their favor.

Just a guess, but NCIS appeals to 50 and over? Personally I've never seen an episode. I hate procedural shows.

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Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning:

Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down.

Forgot to DVR. Any chance I can watch this (legally) online? ABC.com or some such?

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That rabbit is crazy; I'm Brian Waters!

Kotter: "You are lucky I'm truly not the vindictive or psycho type...I'd be careful from now on, and I'd just back the hell off if I were you....otherwise, the Mizzou "extension office" life might get exciting"

What concerns me long term (and even short term for that matter) is that none of Marvel's most well-known characters will appear in this series.

No Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, or Captain America. Even lessor knowns like Hawkeye, Black Widow and Ant Man won't appear, either, because there are plans for stand-alone films for each. Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Jo aren't going to appear on a weekly TV series. It's possible that whomever they cast as Ant-Man will have a crossover but that's about it.

And certainly no Spidey.

So with that in mind, how does this series sustain the already built-in audience? That's the biggest question, IMO.

There are thousands of Marvel comix characters. Hundreds of good one's.

I think lesser know characters like Maddrox (multiple man,) Luke Cage, and inter-dimensional and ET characters could be used.

What concerns me long term (and even short term for that matter) is that none of Marvel's most well-known characters will appear in this series.

No Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, or Captain America. Even lessor knowns like Hawkeye, Black Widow and Ant Man won't appear, either, because there are plans for stand-alone films for each. Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Jo aren't going to appear on a weekly TV series. It's possible that whomever they cast as Ant-Man will have a crossover but that's about it.

And certainly no Spidey.

So with that in mind, how does this series sustain the already built-in audience? That's the biggest question, IMO.

I think the show survives by generating strong storylines that don't have anything to do with established Marvel canon (or just loose association or minor characters). It's all about the characters they create for the show. If people care about the ensemble cast, if the audience becomes invested in their story, people will keep tuning in. Like any other show. Strong acting, good writing. Good TV.

I think the show survives by generating strong storylines that don't have anything to do with established Marvel canon (or just loose association or minor characters). It's all about the characters they create for the show. If people care about the ensemble cast, if the audience becomes invested in their story, people will keep tuning in. Like any other show. Strong acting, good writing. Good TV.

Easier said than done.

This is exactly why pilots are necessary.

If a pilot doesn't find an audience immediately, more often than not, the show doesn't survive. Networks aren't going to commit to 13 or 24 episodes when no one is watching.

(And I should clarify I was just laying out how I thought it would best be done, not making a prediction that that's what they'll do, or that it will work. I obviously have no idea what's going to happen...)

This was exactly my thought. There were some scenes in it that just screamed Whedon.

Whedon isn't doing the entire series?

__________________
That rabbit is crazy; I'm Brian Waters!

Kotter: "You are lucky I'm truly not the vindictive or psycho type...I'd be careful from now on, and I'd just back the hell off if I were you....otherwise, the Mizzou "extension office" life might get exciting"